Raze International, Inc. Begins Remediation of Smokestacks Property

The WVLSC engaged remediation contractor Raze International to clean up its first Land Bank property, a 2.31-acre parcel known as the Smokestacks Property in the Morgantown Industrial Park. Raze began work on December 6th and will demolish and remediate two brick buildings on the property in the coming weeks. We considered sealing off the smokestacks and leaving them intact, but that option proved to be prohibitively expensive. We therefore plan to seek additional grant funding to remove the smokestacks from the property.

Truist Grants WVLSC $25K to Plan for Land Bank Partnership with State Auditor

The WVLSC will use Truist funds to develop a plan to grow its capacity as a statewide Land Bank dedicated to promoting economic development by facilitating the reuse of underutilized properties. For its initial focus area, the WVLSC plans to acquire property that was sold for nonpayment of taxes and now resides in the State Auditor’s Office. We will then clear title and help prepare the property for development. We will partner with multiple housing organizations throughout West Virginia to transfer those properties that are fit for housing to local housing organizations at a below-market rate. We will prioritize properties located within each housing partners’ focus area, with the dual goals of providing additional buildable (or improvable) lots and eliminating blight.

Environmental Assessment and Structural Analysis Conducted at Former Albright Power Plant

Using funds from our EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant, the WVLSC’s consultants conducted a Phase I environmental assessment and analyzed the cost of removing all structures on the former Albright Power Plant property that are unlikely to be repurposed. Knowing more about these costs will allow the WVLSC and its partners to realistically evaluate the options for the property set out in the reuse plan we created for the area earlier this year, which envisions repurposing the power plant site, removing the adjacent dam, and creating new opportunities and amenities for outdoor recreation nearby.

Phase I Assessment Conducted at Morgantown’s Warner Theatre

This fall we conducted a Phase I environmental assessment of the Warner Theatre in downtown Morgantown using funds from our EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant. Local stakeholders and downtown property owners hope to build upon recent improvements to south High Street and see the rehabilitation of the Warner as an important next step. Having a Phase I in hand will help potential developers better understand the property.

Welcome to our Third Executive Director, Taylor Bennett

Taylor hails from a small town in rural western New York, situated in the northern reaches of the greater Appalachian Region. She is delighted to be making her home in West Virginia. Her lifelong affinity for the hills has developed into a deep respect for the many ways the land supports our communities, economies, and culture, and a dedication to ensuring that its reuse provides sustainable economic benefit for all West Virginians.

Taylor comes to the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation with a master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from Arcadia University and a decade of experience in community, economic, and agricultural development; environmental preservation; and non-profit management. Formerly the Director of Community Based Policy at the WV Community Development Hub, she spent the last four years in West Virginia’s state capitol advocating for new ways to turn problem properties into economic opportunities. She also focused on land banking and creating systems-level changes to support both commercial and residential property redevelopment.

In her new role, Taylor intends to use these skills to continue making both the systemic and site-by-site changes that West Virginia’s communities and economies need to thrive.

When she’s not taking on challenges related to economic development, land reuse, and environmental preservation, Taylor can be found admiring the WV hills on horseback, chasing her three dogs around the yard, or doting on her growing collection of house plants and ever-expanding garden. She lives in Fairmont with her spouse and their six-year-old son.

We very much appreciate the hard work and contributions of Patty Hickman over the past few years and wish her the best of luck.